Life saving apparatus



Jan. 14, 1964 J. BERNHARDT ETAL 3,117,326

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 50, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1964 J.BERNHARDT ETAL 7, 6

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 50, 1961 1964 J.BERNHARDT ETAL 3,117,326

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 30. 1961 Jan. 14, 1964J. BERNHARDT ETAL 3,117,325

- LIFE SAVING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 50. 1961 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 B I, a

United States Patent 3,117,326 LIFE SAVING APPARATUS .lost Bernhardt,Hamburg, and Friedrich Biihle, Hamburg- Altona, Germany, assignors toBernhardt Apparatehau, G.m.h.H., Co., Hamburg, Germany Filed Nov. 30,1961, Ser. No. 156,034 7 Claims. (U. 9-333) The present inventionrelates to a life saving apparatus and, more specifically, to aninflatable life saving apparatus.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an imlatable lifesaving apparatus which will give a maximum of safety to the wearer ofthe apparatus in the water.

It is also an ob}ect of this invention to provide a life savingapparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph which, when ininflated condition, will be characterized by a mmimum of interferencewith the movements of the wearer.

it is still a further object of this invention to provide an inflatablelife saving apparatus which normally is packed in uninflated conditionand from this condition can quickly, in a simple manner and safely betransformed into its life saving condition.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

PEG. 1 is a side view of a life saving apparatus accordo the presentinvention in inflated condition.

i 2 is a front view of the life saving apparatus acing to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the life saving apparatus according to the invention infolded condition.

FiGS. 5, 6 and 7 respectively illustrate on an enlarged scale crosssections through FIG. 4 along the lines VV, VlVl and Vl-lV l, whereasFIG. 6a shows the floating bodies in inflated condition.

The requirement to give the wearer of the life saving apparatusaccording to the invention maximum safety in the water when theapparatus is in inflated condition may be met by providing a sufl'icientbuoyancy and in addition thereto a reserve buoyancy which will assure afavorable stable swimming position of the wearer while keeping hisbreathing openings away from the water. To allow an easy folding of thelife saving apparatus, inflatable floating bodies for the buoyancy maybe provided from which floating bodies the air may be withdrawn wheneverdesired two individual-1y inflatable floating bodies which respectivelyextend around the neck or" the wearer and have two wings extending infront of the chest of the wearer. These inflatable floating bodies havestraps connected thereto for connecting the life saving apparatus to thebody of the wearer. each of the floating bodies alone may have asuificient buoyancy volume while the two floating bodies are foldedtogether in collapsed condition and are located in a cover havingconnected thereto straps and a hip strap. The lower ends of the wingportions which extend around the chest are connected to the hip strap bypulling means which are combined for the two floating bodies and extendat an angle with regard to the central plane of the body.

The upper inner edge of each wing has an arch as sup port for the chinof the wearer.

According to the present invention,

3,117,326 Patented Jan. 14, 1964 -In view of this design andconstruction, each of the two floating bodies will, when inflatedindividually, be able safely to protect the wearer against drowning.However, following the inflation of both floating bodies, each of thesefloating bodies will be able to assume a position and shape which willassure the safety of the wearer without affecting the other floatingbody and without exerting pressure upon the neck and throat area of thewearer. Furthermore, each of the two floating bodies will be able toassume the above mentioned position and shape as soon as the otherfloating body becomes ineffective, regardless of whether originally oneor both floating bodies were inflated.

The fact that the free ends of the lowermost portions of the lowerfloating bodies are held down near the waist area of the person wearingthe life jacket, imparts upon said lower floating bodies a buoyancy atthe desired area, i.e. that area which is most favorable for the desiredinclined position on the back, namely below the chin, therebycounteracting the dangerous forward sloping of the head in case ofunconsciousness. At the same time this attachment permits the inflatedupper floating body with its chin portion to move at an inclinelaterally outwardly so that it will not handicap the wearer of theapparatus neither at the chin nor at the throat. If the air is releasedfrom the lower floating body, the connection of the floating body wingwith the supporting means will permit the upper floating bodyautomatically to move into the position and shape of the lower floatingbody whereby on one hand the inclined position of the wearer on the backwill be assured and on the other hand the breathing openings will beheld free even if the wearer should be unconscious. When the upperfloating body has the air withdrawn therefrom, the position and shape ofthe lower floating body will not be affected because the connection ofits wings with the supporting means will remain unaffected.

According to a further development of the present invention, the twofloating bodies are at the neck portion of the supporting cover held ina loop. In this way, each .of the two floating bodies will be exposedwhere its buoyancy will assure the head of the wearer a support in theneck. Furthermore, the connection of the floating body to the neckportion in conformity with the present invention is prevented frommoving out of its intended position in upward direction.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the apparatus according to thepresent invention comprises a U-shaped support 1 of strong wovenmaterial which extends around the neck of the wearer of the apparatus inthe form of a collar and is provided with two wings 2 which aredisplaceable on a hip strap 3 and rest on the chest of the wearer. Twoinflatable bags or containers '4 and 5 rest in superimposed position onsaid support 1. Each of these bags or containers likewise consists of acollar portion 6 and two chest wings 7. The cut of the containers 4 and5 is such that the two wings 7 after having been completely inflatedwill at a certain pressure rest against each other and are able by meansof an arch 8 to support the chin of the wearer as shown in FIGS. 2 and3. The volume of each container '4, 5' is so selected that each onealone will have a buoyancy which is fully suflicient for the swimmingposition of the wearer.

In order to locate the containers 4 and 5, which form the floatingbodies, on the support 1, a loop is provided in the neck portion whichloop extends around the two containers 4 and 5 and has a widthsubstantially equalling engages buckles 11 which are displaceablymounted on a holding strap 12. Each holding strap 12 is connected to thelower edge of the respective wing 2 of the support 1 at a portion whichis closer to the central body portion of the wearer than the portions ofconnection of the flaps It} to the respective floating bodies.Consequently, the straps 12 and the pulling forces conveyed thereby tothe wing '7 of the floating body will be directed from the outside tothe inside at an incline, see ti. FIGS. 2 and 3. Connected to the neckportion of support 1 is a long strap 13 (FIG. 1) which passes throughthe crotch of the wearer and is connected at the front to the hip strap3 (FIGS. 2 and 3) by looping or a knot.

In addition to inflating the lower floating body by air from the lungs,there may also be provided a compressed air bottle 14 (shown in FIG. 1only) which is mounted on the support 1. The upper floating body may beinflated by air from the lungs through a hose 15 which is mounted on oneof the floating bodies 7 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A corresponding hose is alsoprovided for the lower floating body. However, for the upper floatingbody also a compressed air bottle may be provided.

The inner length of support 1 of U-shape or collar shape (FIG. 4)substantially equals the length of the floating bodies when in foldedcondition. However, the wings 2 of support 1 are considerably narrowerthan the floating bodies 4, 5 so that the support will on the chest sideof the wearer require only so much space that the wearer will not beimpeded with regard to his movability. Accordingly, the two inflatableenvelopes forming the floating bodies have, when not inflated, theirwings 7 folded in longitudinal direction (FIG. 5) for folding theapparatus together so that said wings 7 will be located within thecircumferential lines of wing 2 of the support 1. In this position, thetwo containers of the floating bodies will be covered by one fabric flap16 each and will be properly located, said flaps 16 being arranged onthe outside of each wing Z and being provided with snap button members17 at the edge. These members 17 are adapted to cooperate with snapbutton members 18 on the inner edge of wing 2. The members 17 and 18form a closure which during the inflation of only one, preferably thelower floating body, will open automatically by pulling apart the snapbutton members (see FIG. 5). The straps 12 with flaps are in aconvenient manner together with the wings 7 placed into foldedcondition. Similarly, the neck portions of the two containers 4 and '5are folded together and covered by a collar 19 which latter is arrangedon the inner edge of the collar of the support and is likewise closed bymeans of snap buttons 20 which open automatically during the inflation(see FIGS. 6 and 7).

Referring now to FIG. 5, this figure shows over FIGS. 1 to 4 that thedisplacement by the ends of the support wings 2 on the hip strap 3 ismade possible by a loop 21 so that when inflating the envelopes of thefloating bodies, the wings 2 may be displaced on the strap 3 toward thestrap 13 and in this way may follow the change in the configuration andlocation of the container wings 7. The wings 2 of the support are heldfast by a closure 22 (FIG. 4), whereas the closure 23 of the hip strap3- is closed in any condition of the apparatus.

The right-hand portion of REG. 4 illustrates the apparatus according tothe invention in folded together condition. The cut of the support 1 issuch as to allow the latter snugly to adapt itself to the shape of thebody of the wearer so that the latter will not be handicapped in hismovements. The wing portions 2 of the support contribute to this featureby their lateral location on the body. The left-hand portion of FIG. 4shows the apparatus with opened up covers :16 and 19 after the snapbuttons 17, 18 and 20 have been opened.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the apparatus according to the present inventionafter both floating bodies have been inflated. FIG. 2 shows thedirection of pull in the straps 12 along an incline and also shows thedisplacement of the support wings 2 on the hip strap 3 over the positionof wings 2 in FIG. 4 as will be clearly evident from the drawing. Thedrawings also show the support of the chin of the wearer by the archedportion 8 of the lower floating body, and furthermore show the effectedlateral outward displacement of the corresponding portions of the upperfloating body. The wings 7 of the lower floating body are located aheadof the chest of the wearer while pressing against each other. Thesechanges in shape and location of the floating bodies are aided furtherby the buoyancy. As will be evident from FIG. 1, the buoyancy, whichalmost exclusively has its origin with the lower floating body, has itsforce of buoyancy directed to the region of the upper chin and chestportion and thus will make sure that the wearer will occupy the desiredinclined position on his back.

FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus according to the present inventionafter the air has been withdrawn from the lower floating body. Thebuoyancy upon the now immersed upper floating body will take over thefunction of the previously inflated lower floating body. The said upperfloating body will at the support 1 or the body of the wearer take onthe same shape and location as was previously done by the lower floatingbody which now with emptied envelope rests in a flat manner upon thechest of the wearer. Due to the pull in inclined direction of the straps12, the two upper floating body wings 7 are located closely to eachother and thus assure the support of the chin portion. If for somereason the upper floating body becomes ineflfective, the lower floatingbody will retain its shape, location and effect and will not be alfectedby the limp condition of the envelope of the upper floating body.

The limitation of the length of the neck loop 9 to the circumference ofonly one of the two inflated floating bodies prevents an impediment ofthe wearer with regard to his throat, neck and car areas and at the sametime gives him the desired support in the neck. This applies on one handwhen both floating bodies are inflated in which instance the sidewardmovement of the arched portions 8 of the upper floating body on the chinstill may be aided further by first inflating the lower floating bodywhereby only the neck loop 9 will be filled. On the other hand, theabove remarks also apply when only one of the two floating bodies isinflated or when, as described above, the floating bodies interchangetheir locations. In the last two mentioned instances, the neck loop 9prevents a possible upward movement of the ap= paratus from its desiredposition. Corresponding remarks apply also when due to incomplete butstill sufiicient filling of the upper floating body the buoyancy drivesthe air upwardly, i.e. into the neck portion. In such an instance, dueto the filling of the neck loop 9 (see FIG. 6a), the upper floating bodywill be held in the neck position and in its turn holds the entireapparatus in the desired position. This will be aided further by theeffect of the arched portions 8 supporting the chin and by the fact thatthe bottom end of the upper floating body is by means of straps 12connected to hip strap 3.

If the buckle connection 11 of the floating body Wing 7 is so designedthat it can easily be opened, it is possible, due to the fact that thecontainers are loosely located in the neck loop 9, following the openingof the buckle 11, to pull one of the floating bodies with one of itswings out of the loop 9 whereupon it can be easily removed from theapparatus in order to have said floating body available for anotherperson to be saved. This step may be carried out with the other floatingbody even in the water. After suflicient inflation, the removedfloating; body may, if necessary, be carried also without strapconnection as an auxiliary device which may be held by hand in itsdesired position in high sea. The two floating bodies may withoutdifficulties selectively be arranged in their upper or their lowerposition on the support.

As will be evident from the above, even the inflation of the twofloating bodies will not impede the vision or the hearing of the wearerof the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus according to the presentinvention allows the wearer suflicient movability, especially of hishead and arms, within the water as well as outside the water. When thefloating bodies are in their folded condition and Worn by the person,practically the upper body, the head and above all the arms have almostcomplete freedom of movement. In folded condition, the floating bodiesmay be located in the carrying container 16, 17, 18 includingcorresponding closure means which will automatically Open when thefloating bodies are inflated. Thus, the apparatus may merely byinflation be transformed from the folded condition into its life savingcondition, and this is effected quickly and without particularoperations. The inflation may preferably be effected by a compressed gascontainer, but may also be carried out by the air from the lungs.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings butalso comprises any modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Thus, while the U-shaped support 1 is preferably made of woven material,such as fabrics of wool, cotton, linen, or combinations thereof, alsoother materials, such as rub ber, plastics or the like may be employed.

What we claim is:

1. A life jacket which comprises in combination: a horseshoe-shapedsupport having a neck portion to be placed around the neck of a personto be equipped with said life jacket, said support also having two legportions for resting on the chest of the person to be equipped with thelife jacket, two individually inflatable floating bodies of a shapesimilar to that of said support and supported thereby, each of saidfloating bodies comprising a collar portion and two leg portionsrespectively connected to opposite ends of said collar portion forresting over the chest of a person to be equipped with said life jacket,at least the upper one of said floating bodies being provided with aportion for supporting the chin of the person to be equipped with thelife jacket, support strap means connected to said support andcomprising a hip strap and a neck-crotch strap for connecting saidsupport to the person to be equipped with the life jacket, floating bodystrap means respectively connected to the free end portions of the legsof said floating bodies for selective and detachable connection withsaid hip strap, and cover means connected to said support for enclosingand holding said floating bodies in their deflated condition on saidsupport and storing said floating bodies therein.

2. A life jacket according to claim 1, in which the air capacity of eachor" said two floating bodies in inflated condition thereof is such as tofurnish a buoyancy suflicient to keep an adult wearer of the life jacketafloat.

3. A life jacket according to claim 1, in which said floating body strapmeans are displaceable on said support strap means.

4. A life jacket which comprises in combination: a horseshoe-shapedsupport having a neck portion to be placed around the neck of a personto be equipped with said life jacket, said support also having two legportions for resting on the chest of the person to be equipped with thelife jacket, two individually inflatable floating bodies of a shapesimilar to that of said support and supported thereby, each of saidfloating bodies comprising a collar portion and two leg portionsrespectively connected to opposite ends of said collar portion forresting over the chest of a person to be equipped with said life jacket,at least the upper one of said floating bodies being provided with anarched portion for supporting the chin of the person to be equipped withthe life jacket, loop means arranged at said collar portions of saidfloating bodies for holding the same to said support, the width of saidloop means approximately equalling the circumference of one of the twofloating bodies in inflated condition, support strap means connected tosaid support and comprising a hip strap and a neck-crotch strap forconnecting said support to the person to be equipped with the lifejacket, floating body strap means respectively connected .to the freeend portions of the legs of said floating bodies for selective anddetachable connection with said hip strap, and cover means connected tosaid support for enclosing and holding said floating bodies in theirdeflated condition on said support and storing said floating bodiestherein.

5. A life jacket which comprises in combination: a horseshoe-shapedsupport having a neck portion to be placed around the neck of a personto be equipped with said life jacket, said support also having two legportions for resting on the chest of the person to be equipped with thelife jacket, two individually inflatable floating bodies of a shapesimilar to that of said support and supported thereby, said twoindividually inflatable bodies being independent of but detachablyconnected to said support and each of said floating bodies comprising acollar portion and two leg portions respectively connected to oppositeends of said collar portion for resting over the chest of a person to beequipped with said life jacket, at least the upper one of said floatingbodies being provided with a portion for supporting the chin of theperson to be equipped with the life jacket, the inner length of saidsupport corresponding substantially to the length of said floatingbodies in a deflated condition, support strap means connected to saidsupport and comprising a hip strap and a neck-crotch strap forconnecting said support to the person to be equipped with the lifejacket, floating body strap means respectively connected to the free endportions of the legs of said floating bodies for selective anddetachable connection with said hip strap, and cover means connected tosaid support for enclosing and holding said floating bodies in theirdeflated condition on said support and storing said floating bodiestherein.

6. A life jacket according to claim 1, in which said support cover meansand said support are provided with closure means adapted normally tokeep the cover means in closed position but operable in response to acertain minimum pressure developing in said floating bodies to openautomatically to thereby release said floating bodies for furtherinflation thereof.

7. A life jacket which comprises in combination: a horseshoe-shapedsupport having a neck portion to be placed around the neck of a personto be equipped with said life jacket, said support also having two legportions for resting on the chest of the person to be equipped with thelife jacket, two individually inflatable floating bodies of a shapesimilar to that of said support and supported thereby, said twoindividually inflatable bodies being independent of but detachablyconnected to said support and each of said floating bodies comprising acollar portion and two leg portions respectively connected to oppositeends of said collar portion for resting over the chest of a person to beequipped with said life jacket, at least the upper one of said floatingbodies being provided with a portion for supporting the chin of theperson to be equipped with the life jacket, support strap meansconnected to said support and comprising a hip strap and a neck-crotchstrap for connecting said support to the person to be equipped with thelife jacket, floating body strap means respectively connected to thefree end portions of the legs of said floating bodies for selective anddetach able connection with said hip strap, and cover means connected tosaid support for enclosing and holding said floating bodies in theirdeflated condition on said support and storing said floating bodiestherein, said cover means comprising a first cover section connected tothe leg portions of said support and opening up toward the outside ofsaid leg portions, said cover means also comprising a second coversection connected to the neck portion of 7 said support for Covering tdecellar portions of said float- 2,784,426 ing bodies. 3,002,203

References Jilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,621,342 Boyle Dec. 16, 1952 1541897 8 Boylc Mar. 12, 1957 Moran Oct.3, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy July 16, 1936 Sweden Apr. 24, 1945Australia Ian. 25, 1954

1. A LIFE JACKET WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: A HORSHSHOE-SHAPEDSUPPORT HAVING A NECK PORTION TO BE PLACED AROUND THE NECK OF A PERSONTO BE EQUIPPED WITH FOR RESTING ON THE CHEST OF THE PERSON TO BEEQUIPPED WITH THE LIFE JACKET, TWO INDIVIDUALLY INFLATABLE FLOATINGBODIES OF A SHAPE SIMILAR TO THAT OF SAID SUPPORT AND SUPPORTED THEREBY,EACH OF SAID FLOATING BODIES COMPRISING A COLLAR PORTION AND TWO LEGPORTIONS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID COLLAR PORTIONFOR RESTING OVER THE CHEST OF A PERSON TO BE EQUIPPED WITH SAID LIFEJACKET, AT LEAST THE UPPER ONE OF SAID FLOATING BODIES BEING PROVIDEDWITH A PORTION FOR SUPPORTING THE CHIN OF THE PERSON TO BE EQUIPPED WITHTHE LIFE JACKET, SUPPORT STREP MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT ANDCOMPRISING A HIP STREP AND A NECK-CROTCH STRAP FOR CONNECTING SAIDSUPPORT TO THE PERSON TO BE EQUIPPED WITH THE LIFE JACKET, FLOATING BODYSTRAP MEANS RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO THE FREE END PORTIONS OF THE LEGSOF SAID FLOATING BODIES FOR SELECTIVE AND DETACHABLE CONNECTION WITHSAID HIP STRAP, AND COVER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FOR ENCLOSINGAND HOLDING SAID FLOATING BODIES IN THEIR DEFLATED CONDITION ON SAIDSUPPORT AND STORING SAID FLOATING BODIES THEREIN.